It was raining heavily outside with 7:15 pm showing on the clock.

The gush of strong wind rattled the windows. Rose, my six-year-old cousin with her palms pasted on the glass when lightning struck she snapped her head to me, "Take me out! Bhai take me out"

"I will hear it as don't take me out bhai don't take me out"

"You don't know, Rush says storms are so exciting he and his sister play on rooftop. It is so cool Bhaiya come on take me outside"

"Only a fool will go out in storm. You hand me that Rash boy's address. He's filling your head with nonsense"

"It's Rush R-U S-H for the sixteenth time. You are so mean bhai and his sister is so cool. You suc-

I picked a candy from the pack I held hostage and ate it leisurely she glared but sat back in her chair doing the homework.

4). Dhruv said a fucking NO

I sent the message

Lucas and Neel were talking nonsense nothing new. Listing pros and cons for me to attend some party.

Dhruv - 5) It is not his scene

Lucas- what is your majesty's scene?

Neel- lounging in a dungeon torturing children

Dhruv- maybe

I pulled the chair back with my boot, Rose acted surprised like she wasn't stealthily dragging it towards the door to open the latch.

Lucas- God is so unfair wasting looks and body on someone who wants to spend his life like a grandpa

Neel- dare I mention a grumpy one

Lucas- I have Silver's message for you. She's saying. "If I die today it's on your account. Don't celebrate you won't get rid of me even then, I will haunt your ass wait it's haunt your asshole ass. Now that's intriguing

Dhruv - Don't fuck with me

Lucas- hey don't shoot the messenger.

I stood up shoving my mobile inside my jeans pocket followed by the thunderbolt and then heavy pitter patter of rain sound. I forgot no actually I didn't, I know this girl was unstoppable and will be the cause of her own death.

I stormed outside then came back and snatched mom's umbrella from Rose who was coming after me with a giddy smile and pink hearts umbrella, I locked the door once I was out. Rose shouted behind it.

Didn't have the time to take out the car from the garage so I marched to the cafe in the rain.

√√√√

I was expecting to see Silver drenched, shivering, and a pitiful sight dotingly looking for my arrival. However, we were dealing with Silver. Her typical self was fixing her lipstick looking in the closed door of the Busy Bean Cafe, standing under the small shelter that barely covered her. Her long hair flowing back she was in a tiny black dress now wet though it must be already stuck to her body like a second skin, in silver high heels she stepped back to admire her reflection properly. My hands itched for my camera to capture this moment.

Only Silver would do that, when everybody was running around to get into shelters she was standing in the eye of the storm fixing her makeup.

I made a hurried move shaking off the daze she stumbled on a step but caught herself in the last second laughing turning around and tilting her head up to welcome the rain.

I appeared stupid for worrying about her condition, she happened to be just fine even better as if she wasn't waiting for 3 hours till the cafe was shut down rendering her stand out in the rain. I knew she would try to get even with me she liked fighting head-to-head. That thought made my blood rush and my heart flipped.

As if sensing my eyes on her she turned her head in my direction. She stared at me rubbing her arms. For a second there was a flicker of emotion on her face cast with gloominess. Then her lips curled up she shooed it away pushing her hair back and heading towards me. The wave of vanilla smell surrounded me.

Headlights flashed of a car moving her way.

I pulled her away covering the distance in quick and light steps and turned her body shielding it with mine when the car passed by us. Was saved from the water splash by the umbrella I tipped back.

"Woah ..." She exclaimed her hands landing on my chest. They were freezing.

"Now that was real smooth" She faced me with raindrops lining on her lower lip.

I dragged my eyes to her adjusting the umbrella so that we don't get further wet

"Do you ever pay attention? Prancing on the road like it's your backyard or maybe you're just bored out of your silly mind so for fun decided to get run over by a vehicle "

She chuckled in disbelief shaking her head.

"Only you chubby roll could insult and care for me in the same line. You are fashionably late my dear interesting umbrella choice btw, just because of it I'll hold no grudges. So where are we going?" She looped her arm around mine looking up at me expectedly. A water drop ran down the slope of the nose to the bow of her lips. My hands itched again for my camera.

"In case you didn't get the memo you got stood up" I removed my arm I tried to be gentle but she was clutching it like an octopus digging her nails.

She had a light smile on her face but her eyes, those huge grey ones swirled with rage. It made me slightly amused that she was so angry but acted chill like it was no deal.

I cocked my head, interesting.

"I thought you were smart-

"No, you didn't " She cut me off her hold tightening on my arm her attempts to barge her anger as if seconds away from scratching my face. Or maybe Punching. Her other hand was curled into a fist

I lowered my head to her. "I agree, you are not the brightest crayon in the box. But it wasn't hard to comprehend if your date didn't appear within an hour or two you are technically badly stood up"

She tried so hard to keep up a good face with playful antics, but at last, it twisted she hissed, "You are such an asshole"

I laughed lifting my head. Her reaction was funny.

She stared at me for a moment rendered astonished then folded her arms glowering, "Don't you just love it embarrassing me? Mocking me? if you didn't want to come you should have said it but no, you love making a fool outta me. I am shivering standing in the cold for three and a half - what are you doing why are you taking off your hoodie"

I picked her hand and dropped my black hoodie on it she caught it before it landed on the ground.

"Okay it's quite big for me I'll accept since you are so worried about me tho won't let you get away easily this time. Where's the car anyway? We aren't going to be walking all the way? are we? I can't....oh wait you seriously ran for me with no knowledge of something called conveyance. Dear, I should feel special but these heels won't let me. I picked the chewing ones lemme take them off good idea by the way I just love walking barefoot in rain since someone who stood me up didn't offer to carry me too... Dhruv, are you listening?"

"Do I need to? You are very much talented at doing two people conversation on your own"

She appeared shorter with her heels gone.

I glanced back, my hoodie had swallowed her body it reached the hem of her dress on her thighs. Somehow she worked it up into one of the outfits from her wardrobe, pulling up the sleeves and flashing her gold bracelet was it sunglasses? She slid them up on head. Hair was tied back in a neatly done bun held by her trademark Silver bow.

She had me speechless.

"What is that look? don't tell now you want to kiss me?" She took a bold step towards me under the umbrella. The wind blew lightly.

I found my eyes again darting to her pink luscious lips tipped up in a playful smile. She had an extraordinary mouth too big but perfect on her face. I studied her face there was a tiny mole right on her right cheekbone with all that makeup layer never visible before. Now with barely any, she appeared better and more readable. Why was I noticing such pointless details?
There was a stitches mark line on her forehead made me intrigued I found myself tracing it not thinking.

Her breath hitched I looked into her her eyes no more flashed that boldness she closed them her breast rising and falling beneath my hoodie it has done nothing to hide their presence.

I trailed my finger down to her brow to the side of her face to the tendril of her stuck hair reaching her earlobe there was a piercing just above her lobe never noticed it too. It has a tiny green stone earring. My thumb traveled where it was intended on firstly her lower lip with a bead of drop I wiped slowly watching it smearing on her pink lipstick she parted her lips in a sigh. I felt my breath lost. My blood ran wild in all places, the vanilla scent urging me to get a taste of it. I didn't realize I had gotten drawn towards her my forehead brushing hers my face leaning into hers. I immediately bristled away with a harsh breath and an annoying protest on the inside.

I whirled around muttering in a sharp tone angry at myself for losing control, "We are wasting time here come on move before the weather turns bad again "

I took big steps without waiting for her she caught up with me in a beat.

We walked quietly if that excluded her humming and glancing up at me. Staring intently, subtlety had completely left out of the chat. I looked back at her she won't break the eye contact making me the first one to withdraw. Funny how I thought she resembled Ms . Newton who knew her limits she would have wisely stepped away rather than chilling on dangerous waters.

"I want to eat corn" Silver announced walking to the small street corn stall in the mid of closing it. The vendor stopped when he saw Silver smiling using her charms to have her way

I huffed contemplating whether to leave her on her own handing the umbrella since she was fine.

She beckoned me when I remained rooted in my place. "You don't want?" She waved the corns in each of her hands.

I reached her sighing.

"You don't like corn?"

"I-

"Wait I know you are the type who doesn't like anything you are a picky eater Dhruv no surprise " she teased

It irked me I glared, snatching the corn in her hand that she wasn't eating.

I took a bite on it. It was hot my eyes widened I blew holding it back

She laughed at me, "God what's the hurry? Have you burned your tongue let me see say, AAHH Dhruv-

"Bug off" I grimaced, I did burn my tongue and I don't like corn.

"We will get you an ice cream wait you don't like ice cream also? Do you?" She continued teasing me. I was going to toss the corn and her away

"Here lemme," she said holding my hand with the corn lifting and blowing on it dumb move when it was breezy.

But, Silver with corn was a bizarre combination. I watched her rosy mouth. "What are you thinking?" She noticed. I gulped looking away.

"Now go ahead it's all good"

I bet

I raised my brow

"Yes believe me it's fine now" she laughed when I looked at her suspiciously.

I took a tentative bite and then chewed alright I survived. It was fine.

"You liked it!"

"No" I took another bite.

"Wait there's something on your lips" She rubbed the corner of my mouth suddenly. She pulled her hand right back when I eyed it.

"What?"

"A lie"

I held back a smile.
I turned my face away feeling it heat up.

"I was hurt when you did not show up. I mean you said one date. I remember I wasn't forcing you into it I asked and you agreed" she said on the way.

"But you stood me up purposely. It wounded my ego I had decided I won't trouble you anymore a girl could take so much. I am not the despo type it's not my style you see we would have technically broken up today "

"What stopped?"
I shot her a blank look

"But then you came with a hearts umbrella to rescue me, my knight with a pink umbrella should I take it as a sign or something?"

"A sign there was no umbrella visible at the moment"

"Hmmm...but if you don't care then why did you come?" She asked incredulously

"You sent me the message "

"You could have ignored it that's your style"

"It was bad weather and you are stupid, someone has to be the sensible one in this situation"

"But you hate me"

"I am not heartless"

"There" she gave me a big smile and sparkly eyes. "I know it's there"

"It doesn't have to mean anything. I still don't like you, still don't want to do anything with you"

"Yeah yeah " She waved leaping on the puddle cooly and almost tripped

"Wear your heels"

"My feet hurt" she sneezed

I stopped, "wear your heels else we won't walk further"

She rolled her eyes," So bossy" Clutching my arm she got into her heels. "I will hold your hand for the rest of the way I don't want to trip you didn't bring the car it's your fault"

She grasped my hand before I could say anything. I wanted to decline but her hand was so cold I wrapped it around my warm one unwillingly.

When we reached her home she glanced at me curiously, "Are you secretly stalking me how do you know where I live?"

"I know everything"

"Hahahah. do us a favor Never crack a joke seriously how do you -" Her eyes caught somewhere up there on the balcony was the same man in a brown coat. His glare was burning holes in the back of my head.

"Shit, that's my dad. Gotta go ...It was an interesting date Dhruv I so enjoyed the weather and the waiting part. Won't complain it comes with all that charming personality of yours not to mention the umbrella won my heart pun not intended. See you at school. This isn't over " She kissed my cheek before she could slip in through the gates I held her in place my arm wrapped around her waist. She appeared surprised but didn't move away.

"It wasn't a date," I said my eyes got drawn to her mouth again.

"You keep saying that when you've been doing nothing but staring at my lips it's the fifth time I catch you. Don't be under this misconception that I don't notice anything. It was a DATE chubby roll"

"Don't call me that" I warned her. I wanted to leave her but my arm seemed to have tightened more around her.

"Stop me then" she challenged now glancing at my lips. I stared into her eyes. Her gaze still on me studying my face intently fluttering her eyelashes slowly she bit her lower lip. I felt it to my very bones.

I gave out a shaky sigh. What a temptress

I loosened my hold and stepped away. "I was with your step sister at 4 pm"

I left after catching a glimpse of her face losing all colours.